Richard Todd Fairchild

Richard “Todd” Fairchild, age 63, as resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on October 8, 2025. Todd was born the son of Richard and Linda (Diggs) Fairchild on December 3, 1961, in Fairfax, Missouri. Todd graduated from Chillicothe High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Northwest Missouri State University in 1984. Todd married Laurie Ann Lyman on June 8, 1985, in Chillicothe, Missouri. Laurie survives of the home.
Todd was fortunate to land his first teaching job in the great community of Hale, Missouri. The Hale school welcomed him from the beginning, and he felt right at home, teaching and coaching great kids for 12 years. Todd moved on to Meadville where he was privileged to continue what he loved. His final stop in his education trek was in Hamilton, Missouri, where he taught middle school social studies and coached and sponsored various activities. Todd’s middle schoolers learned essential life lessons from The Andy Griffith Club which Todd developed and brought to life. He felt blessed to have been able to teach and coach in three great schools; he looked back on the relationships he enjoyed with the students, staff, and communities with great fondness.
After his bulbar onset ALS diagnosis, the outpouring of love from former students, many who remained life-long friends, colleagues, and former classmates who became touchstones for Todd and punctuated his extraordinarily meaningful life, meant the world to him. These groups of people impacted his life in immensely positive ways. They learned from each other, and as he recently said, “They made me a better person.”
Todd enjoyed spending time with his lovely wife, Laurie; they attended concerts, sporting events, and whatever else she had planned. Spending time with family, especially his two grandchildren who he loved so dearly, made Todd feel complete. He liked to look after his yard and fire up the grill. After retiring from his teaching career, he was able to spend more time on the golf course, which he loved…especially when he could beat cousin Dave!
Survivors include his wife Laurie; one son Eric (Hallie) of Clinton, Missouri; two grandchildren, Treynor and Zoey; mother, Linda Fairchild of Chillicothe, Missouri; a sister, Amy Hess of Chillicothe, Missouri; a brother, Tony (Paula) Fairchild of Meadville, Missouri; mother-in-law, Judy Lyman of Chillicothe, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Angela (Jeff) Bose of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Karen (Jeff) Jackson of Chillicothe, Missouri; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Todd was preceded in death by his father, Richard Fairchild; father-in-law, Larry Lyman, and brother-in-law, Tim Hess.
A Memorial service will be held at the Chillicothe United Methodist Church, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. A scheduled visitation will be held at the Chillicothe United Methodist Church, 1414 Walnut St., Chillicothe, Missouri, on Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friends may call at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, on Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be made in Todd’s honor to the Team Gleason Foundation for ALS or the Green Hills Golf Course Improvement Fund and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.